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[av_heading heading=’Iloilo City mayor moving in ‘correct direction’ – Jerry’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY PRINCE GOLEZ
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Wednesday, November 29, 2017
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MANILA – A “positive development” was how Cong. Jerry Treñas viewed the improving relations between President Rodrigo Duterte and Iloilo City.
This meant the city would have “access to the President,” Treñas told Panay News.
His brother-in-law, Mayor Jose Espinosa III, was received cordially by Duterte in Malacañang last week.
The city mayor “is moving in the correct direction,” according to Treñas who served as mayor from 2001 to 2010.
Since August 2016 Duterte had repeatedly branded Iloilo “most shabulized” and “bedrock of illegal drugs.”
He also accused Espinosa’s predecessor, Jed Patrick Mabilog, of being a drug protector.
“We should all work together to support the programs of the city on drug prevention,” said Treñas.
Eradicating illegal drugs is a priority of the Duterte administration.
Espinosa announced on Monday he formed a special committee to prepare for the President’s possible visit to Iloilo City in January 2018. He personally invited Duterte to grace the Dinagyang Festival during a visit to Malacañang on Nov. 23.
The committee is composed of City Administrator Hernando Galvez, Francis Cruz of the City Information Technology Office, Executive Assistant Melchor Tan, City Hall chief Security Officer Felix Muchada, and a representative from the City Engineer’s Office.
While Duterte had visited neighboring Bacolod City twice already since becoming President (during the MassKara Festival in 2016 and 2017), he has yet to visit Iloilo City.
“Sa pag-welcome pa lang sa aton sa Malacañang…gina-interpret ko nga okay na ‘ta sa Presidente,” said Espinosa.
Treñas said Ilonggos should also work together in encouraging more investors to come in.
Ilonggo senator Franklin Drilon said during a multi-sectoral forum here Friday last week that the “most shabulized” and “bedrock of illegal drugs” tags could undermine Iloilo’s efforts to attract investors.
This, in turn, could affect “our ability of provide jobs to our people” and contribute to poverty, said Drilon./PN
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